Defence Minister A K Antony on Wednesday dismissed suggestions that Pakistan's nuclear capabilities may be a factor in any hesitation by India to carry out a surgical strike against terror camps and said its restraint should not be construed as a weakness. "It (nuclear weapons with Pakistan) has nothing to do with that (decision not to strike). India's restraint should not be taken as a weakness," Antony told reporters on the sidelines of the Aero India show in Bangalore.
The air element has a great psychological effect on the adversary as it can raise the morale of our forces while lowering that of the adversary, says Colonel (Dr) Anil Athale (retd).
Commerce ministry had recently brought out a discussion paper that called for allowing 100 per cent FDI in the defence sector.
Amidst media investigations alleging that peacekeepers from Indian Army were embroiled in gold and ivory smuggling and giving arms to militias in Congo, Defence Minister A K Antony said, "Anyone found guilty will not be spared". The allegations, Antony said, were being probed by United Nations investigators.
Defence Minister A K Antony will perform all the customary duties of the Prime Minister during Republic Day on Monday, the government said on Saturday, clearing confusion over the issue."The Defence Minister will lay a wreath at the India Gate before the Republic Day parade begins and step in for the Prime Minister in all functions related to the Republic Day." Defence Ministry spokesperson Sitanshu Kar said in New Delhi.
Young Bharatiya Janata Party leader Varun Gandhi has been nominated as a member of the key Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence in order to groom him as a future leader of the party and give valuable parliamentary experience.
India on Friday asked the world community to cooperate in its efforts to get Pakistan act against terror outfits operating from its soil. "We expect cooperation from all world communities to get speedy results to our demands," Defence Minister A K Antony told reporters here to a question on United States President Barack Obama's reference to Pakistan and Afghanistan as the central front in America's war against terrorism.
In a new twist to the politically sensitive graft case in which he is an accused, CPI(M) leader Pinarayi Vijayan today filed a petition in a special court in Kochi seeking direction to the CBI to question Defence Minister A K Antony, the then chief minister of the state.
Heavy security arrangements have been made in connection with the visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Kannur on Thursday to declare open the Indian Navy's Ezhimala Naval Academy. Arriving at Karipur airport in Kozhikode from Chennai, the Prime Minister will reach Ezhimala on Thursday afternoon and reach the venue 'Nalanda' at 2.45 pm.
Accusing Pakistan of not making any serious attempt to dismantle terror infrastructure, India on Wednesday said that this was a cause for 'major worry' and it will examine 'all the available, possible options'. Sending a tough message a day after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh spoke of the involvement of Pakistan's state agencies in the Mumbai terror attack, Defence Minister A K Antony said, "We will do everything to prevent such attacks".
The only sensible solution is in having a separate pay commission for the armed forces.
In the wake of Mumbai attacks, when terrorists used sea route to strike the city, the government today took a host of measures, including acquisition of ships, installation of radars and setting up of new coast guard stations, to strengthen security of coastal areas.
In order to review the security situation and the state of preparedness of the armed forces, Defence Minister A K Antony on Thursday held a meeting with the three service chiefs and senior defence ministry officials. "The minister held a meeting with the chiefs of the three services and the defence secretary to review the overall security situation and to take stock of the state of preparedness of the armed forces," a defence ministry official said.
There is no change in India's Pakistan policy after general elections in the neighbouring country, Defence Minister A K Antony said on Saturday. "There was no change in our policy towards Pakistan," he told mediapersons at the Hindustan Aeronautics complex in Nashik.
In the backdrop of the Mumbai terror attacks, the Cabinet Committee on Security held a meeting on Tuesday to chalk out future plans for enhancing internal security through tough laws and establishment of a federal agency. The CCS meeting, held at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's residence, was attended by Home Minister P Chidamabaram, Defence Minister A K Antony, Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta and National Security Advisor M K Narayanan.
March 9, 2007, Defence Minister Antony cited intelligence reports to inform the Lok Sabha of the possibility that terrorists would use sea routes to enter the country. In his statement, Antony identified maritime terrorism, gun-running and piracy as major threats along India's seas, and said the government had worked out a menu of measures aimed at enhancing coastal security.
We have been fine-tuning and improving the Defence procurement Procedure based on periodical reviews," he said while inaugurating the 5th International Land and Naval Systems Exhibition in New Delhi. "The current procurement procedure is also under review to make it more transparent and user-friendly," Antony said.
The controversial Logistics Support Agreement and expansion of United States military sales to India are expected to figure prominently during the two-day visit of Defence Secretary Robert Gates from February 26. During the security dialogue, the two sides will review their strategic cooperation in various fields and explore ways to enhance the ties during the visit, sources said.
Union Defence Minister A K Antony on Monday said it was "unfortunate and painful" that 70 per cent of the defence equipment was still being imported and informed the Lok Sabha that government was working towards manufacturing state-of-the-art equipment indigenously.
India on Sunday said 42 terror camps are 'still active' in Pakistan and that lack of a serious attempt or effort by that country to dismantle them is the 'main cause of concern for us.'
"We have to provide better salaries and incentives to people joining the defence forces to enable the forces to compete with the other sectors," he said.
The sophisticated Russian-made MiG-29K maritime fighter aircraft, which will be based on under-construction aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov, were formally inducted into the Navy by Defence Minister A K Antony on Friday.Four MiG 29Ks of the 'Black Panthers' squadron were inducted at a ceremony that was also attended by Navy chief Admiral Nirmal Verma.
Union Defence Minister A K Antony on Monday said the army was raising two new mountain divisions in the North-East, along the borders with China, but dismissed suggestions that the move was against the neighbour.
India is expected to spend around $50 billion in next 20 years for acquiring weapons for its armed forces. Antony said the increasing expenditure on defence will help the Indian industry to play a more 'meaningful role' in the defence sector in the country.
India, on Thursday, said infiltration from Pakistan has declined in the recent past, but the threat from terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir is "real" and there is no question of lowering the guard. "Of late, there has been a decline in infiltration in the borders but we cannot say it is an improvement," Defence Minister A K Antony told media-persons after addressing the Unified Commanders' Conference in New Delhi.
"I should think that we will have a final answer within about two weeks time or so," Mehta told reporters here while replying to a question on when the committee headed by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee was expected to submit its report. "But they (the Mukherjee committee) are in the process of finding out what are the issues involved. And I'm sure they will take the right decision pretty quickly," he said.
The government on Sunday said the army has already taken strong action in the Sukhna land scam case and insisted that it will not tolerate even a single case of corruption in the armed forces."Already, the Army has taken strong action. I do not want to say anything further. We cannot tolerate even a single instance of corruption," Defence Minister A K Antony said on the sidelines of a function to present awards to the winning tableaux of the Republic Day parade.
Army Chief Deepak Kapoor has refused to accept a 20 per cent hike in his pension provided on the basis of his disability suffered during service.
The willingness to collaborate ranges from combat aircraft to early warning systems and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, tactical missiles and military propulsion systems, Defence Minister A K Antony told an international seminar.
Voicing concern over the plight of civilians caught in the Sri Lankan Army offensive against the Liberation Tigers of the Tamil Eelam in rebel-held areas, India has asked Colombo to ensure their safety and security.
The Army on Monday said it has initiated administrative action against three officers and three junior commissioned officers for alleged pilferage of special rations meant for soldiers serving in Siachen Glaciers, the world's highest battle-field.
In the final step to operationalise the India-United States nuclear agreement, American President George W Bush has sent the text of the landmark agreement to the US Congress for final approval.The move by the White House comes five days after the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers Group granted a waiver for India to carry out nuclear commerce.In a statement, the White House said it was transmitting the text of the agreement 'concerning peaceful uses of nuclear energy'.
Defence Minister A K Antony, on his maiden visit to the United States, lauded the Indian American community for their sustained activism and lobbying on behalf of the India-US civilian nuclear deal, which he said was catalytic in helping to fructify it.Antony was speaking at a reception, organised by the Indian American community of the Washington, DC metropolitan area, at the Indian embassy."You played a major role in shaping public opinion in India and the US," Antony said.
A liberalised leave policy and employment of counsellors have been suggested as steps to reduce suicides and fratricides among the security forces.
With Pakistan again indulging in cross-border firing and militants making yet another infiltration attempt in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, Defence Minister A K Antony termed the developments a matter of concern and said the ceasefire should be maintained.
With the country's armed forces and defence establishments making strides to become network-centric, Antony said cyber attacks would pose a major threat. He said with terrorist and non-state actors clandestinely acquiring sophisticated cyber technology, this threat could be more ominous.
"Indian armed forces' exercise and interaction with foreign forces are for upgrade of skills and providing them a chance to get acquainted with hi-tech weapons," Defence Minister A K Antony said on the sidelines of the Naval Commanders conference in New Delhi.
The government,on Monday, ruled out induction of women into combat duties in the defence forces as of now but said the streams for women officers are being expanded continuously.
Defence Minister A K Antony will co-chair the commission meeting with Russian Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov to hold talks on a wide-ranging agenda of military technical cooperation, covering key spheres, including timely delivery of contracted military systems, in the light of the reported settlement of the cost-escalation issue and supply of defence systems.
Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee met telecom minister A Raja and defence minister A K Antony on Monday in an effort to resolve the issue, highly placed sources said, adding that there was no consensus on the spectrum slots to be auctioned.
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